THUR, APRIL 16 2020-theG&BJournal- Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC (FMN Group), Nigeria’s biggest food business and agro-allied group has strengthened the fight to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the country by redeeming a $280 million pledge to the Nigerian Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID).
Mandated by its unwavering commitment, sense of duty to Nigeria spanning the past 60 years, FMN activated an action plan to support the government in fight against the coronavirus, kicking off this plan with a redemption of the Group’s N1 billion pledge to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)-led Nigerian Private Sector Coalition against COVID-19. It also commenced a $840,000 food relief distribution activity spanning 12 Nigerian States, delivering food supplies to the most vulnerable communities hit by National lockdown.
The agro-allied group also weathered the herculean supply chain challenges to procure $1.5 million worth of medical supplies for Nigeria which is expected to rapidly beef up the Nigerian COVID-19 testing capability. It also has commenced deployment of a $840,000 food relief packages to vulnerable communities in 12 states across the Nation.
“To reduce the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak, FMN will continue to work with the Federal Government and related agencies to provide relief materials. The safety of Nigerians is paramount to us, so we encourage all Nigerians to adhere to the necessary protective measures against the virus and its spread,” the Group Chief Operating Officer, Boye Olusanya said in a statement to kick off the FMN COVID-19 response action.
The medical supplies being facilitated include 331,000 pieces of PPE (N95 Masks, Coveralls, Protective gloves, Protective eyewear) enough to provide regular use for 10,000 Nigerian health care professionals over two months, 35,000 laboratory-based testing capacity, 100/day field-testing capacity and 75 Ventilators to be distributed through the NCDC.
The supplies are scheduled to arrive in Nigeria, starting from 18th April through to 27, 2020 and were procured from Dubai, United States, Canada, Greece and China.
‘’These supplies will be delivered to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to ramp up the testing capacity in Nigeria,’’ FMN said.
FMN relying on its 60-year-old profile as an industrial investor in Nigeria’s critical industries and a significant contributor to Nigeria’s quest to feed itself, is bringing its biggest strength to the table, using its global supply chain network to help Nigeria defend itself against COVID-19.APO
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